Patriot Day, the national observance held on September 11, is not a state holiday. It is a National Day of Service and Remembrance in the United States, designated by federal law for remembering the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. As an observance rather than a legal public holiday, government offices, schools, and private businesses do not close.
The confusion often arises from a similarly named event, Patriots' Day, which is a recognized state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine. Patriots' Day is celebrated on the third Monday in April and commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Unlike the September 11 observance, this regional holiday results in the closure of state and local government offices, schools, and many businesses within those specific states. The key distinctions are the date (September 11 vs. the third Monday in April), the name (singular "Patriot" vs. plural possessive "Patriots'"), and the legal status (a national day of remembrance vs. an official state holiday).
In practice, the distinction determines public and private obligations. On September 11 (Patriot Day), flags are flown at half-staff and moments of silence may be observed, but daily activities and business operations continue as usual nationwide. Conversely, on the third Monday in April (Patriots' Day) in Massachusetts and Maine, the day is treated as a public holiday with associated closures and celebratory events, such as the Boston Marathon.
